Wilmington arborist pleads guilty to sex abuse charge in Alabama

Brion Capo, an arborist for the city of Wilmington, has pleaded guilty to a child sex abuse charge in Alabama.

By Julian MarchJulian.March@StarNewsOnline.com

Brion Capo, an arborist for the city of Wilmington, has pleaded guilty to a sex abuse charge in Alabama.Mobile County Assistant District Attorney Nicki Patterson said Capo pleaded guilty in November to sex abuse second degree, a misdemeanor.Capo received a one-year suspended sentence at the request of the victim's family, Patterson said.As of Wednesday, Capo was still employed by the city, said Malissa Talbert, a spokeswoman. "We're trying to get accurate and complete information so a determination can be made about his employment," Talbert said. She said the city needs written, official documentation from Alabama. Capo, 58, was arrested in July on a fugitive warrant stemming from charges of child sex abuse after investigators said he sexually abused a young girl for seven years.He was later released on bond from a Mobile County (Ala.) jail. Capo returned to work on July 23, Talbert said. Reached by phone in August, Capo declined to discuss the charges. "I'd rather not talk about it all," Capo said at the time, adding that newspaper stories were "very damaging for me."Capo was originally charged with child sex abuse, a felony carrying a possible prison sentence of two to 20 years and second-degree sodomy, a felony carrying a one- to 10-year sentence, Patterson has said.The abuse started when the victim was 7 years old but was just reported last year. The incidents with the girl, a relative, occurred during holiday and vacation trips Capo took to Mobile County, Patterson said. The girl, now a teenager, was at church camp and felt moved by a sermon to tell church officials, who then reported it to family and authorities.The city did not conduct a background check on Capo because the arborist position does not require it. The city's code calls for background checks of specific employees who might have interaction with children or a direct impact on security. The list of employees who require background checks includes a variety of positions from department leaders to lifeguards to firefighters. The code also does not allow the city to hire anyone convicted of a felony or misdemeanor assault, kidnapping, child abuse, rape, statutory rape or other sex abuse charges.Capo started working part time for the city in 2006, and was hired as the full-time arborist in July 2007.Capo makes $53,612 a year. The arborist is responsible for directing the city's forestry plans and is also involved in reviewing tree permits, ordinances and tree protection standards.